Former DJ and producer for the Geto Boys, DJ Ready Red (real name: Collins Adams Leysath) died from an apparent heart attack today, the Geto Boys’ Willie D confirmed to Pitchfork. He died at his home in Cherry Hill, New Jersey. He was 53 years old. In a video statement posted on social media, Willie D paid remembrances to his former groupmate. “To say that he was a pioneer would be an understatement,” Willie said. “Red was before his time.”

Born in Trenton, New Jersey, Red first joined the Geto Boys in 1986, which was then referred to as the Ghetto Boys. He became the group’s first DJ and producer, joining the lineup of Sire Jukebox, Prince Johnny C, and Little Billy (the dancer/hypeman who was later known as Bushwick Bill). Together, hey began recording the group’s first studio album, 1988’s Making Trouble. On the album, Red notably sampled the 1983 crime thriller Scarface on the track “Balls and My Word”—even before Scarface joined the group.

After Willie D and Scarface took the places of Sire Jukebox and Prince Johnny C, Ready Red was still responsible for producing most of the Geto Boys’ early work. He also produced Willie D’s 1989 debut solo album, Controversy. Following disputes over whether he was fairly compensated as a member of the group, Red left the Geto Boys prior to the release of their 1991 album, We Can’t Be Stopped.